Townsville residents are set to benefit from rates and utility charges that remain lower than the Queensland average, according to a new benchmarking snapshot released by Townsville City Council.
The snapshot compared rates, utilities, discounts and household charges across 13 major Queensland councils using the latest 2025/26 budget data. It found that Townsville’s average annual residential rates and utility charges sit at $4199 (after applying Council’s 5% prompt payment discount), compared to the benchmarked Queensland average of $4392.
Keeping Costs Down While Delivering Services
Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said the results reflect Council’s commitment to balancing affordability with the delivery of core services.
“We know the cost of living is front of mind for many in our community. This snapshot confirms that Townsville continues to deliver core services while keeping rates and utilities below the Queensland average.”
She noted that while councils differ in their service levels, geographic conditions, and community expectations, the benchmarking provides a fair comparison to similar-sized local governments.
Competitive Discounts Across the State
Townsville’s 5% prompt payment discount is one of the more competitive in Queensland. Of the councils benchmarked:
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Four offer no discount,
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Two provide a fixed-dollar discount, and
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Seven apply percentage-based discounts ranging between 5% and 10%.
Managing Land Valuation Changes
This year’s rate cycle reflects changes from the Queensland Government’s 2025 land valuation program, which brought an average 27% increase in land values across Townsville.
Council has introduced measures to soften the impact on households, including:
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Reducing the rate in the dollar
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Capping general rate increases for residential homeowners at 20%
For a typical Category 1 property, the average increase will be around $240 annually (or $4.62 per week). This includes:
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$168 ($3.23 per week) in higher utility charges (water, waste, sewerage)
Around one-third of residential ratepayers will see no increase or even a decrease in their general rates, depending on their land valuation.
On Magnetic Island, land values rose by an average 61%, jumping from $151,000 to $243,000. Despite this steep increase, rate rises remain capped at 20% for homeowners. Of the 1,000+ principal residences on the Island:
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769 will see increases of 15–20%
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45 will see increases of 5–15%
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140 will see increases of 0–5%
What Ratepayers Need to Know
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Notices issued: From Monday 4 August 2025
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Payments due: Monday 8 September 2025
Council is also encouraging residents to switch to eNotices, the fast and sustainable way to receive notices via email. Those who sign up will be entered into a draw to win a $250 Visa gift card.